FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — If you look closely you'll see the Falcons' tight ends travel in a pack around the training facility. Oftentimes, it's the trio of Charlie Woerner, John FitzPatrick and Ross Dwelley.
"We like to stick together and do things together, kind of be on the same schedule and we just of feed off each other," Dwelley said. "It's been a great friendship."
The three all share a similar role as block-first, inline tight ends, and they've got a shared history, too. Woerner played with FitzPatrick at the University of Georgia for two years and with Dwelley as fellow San Francisco 49ers for four seasons.
It's created a dynamic in the Falcons' tight end room that feels unique to the players who occupy it. Woerner compared it to his rookie season when he entered a position group only knowing Dwelley and developed camaraderie almost from scratch.
"Here it's even easier when you got two guys that you've known for a long time, and you instantly walk in and start meeting everyone else too," Woerner said. "but you got your guys and lean on them too."
Not only that, but it's created a shorthand on the field that's helped the group, especially between Dwelley and Woerner, who have shared significant playing time together throughout multiple, deep playoff runs. It also helps that they've all developed a close friendship.
Dwelley invited Woerner to be a groomsman at his wedding last summer. And when Dwelley, a California native, signed with Atlanta, Woerner made sure to initiate him into southern culture. After the Falcons' open practice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the two had a "man date" at Waffle House. Dwelley had never been, but it marks a special place for Woerner. It's where he took his wife on their first date at the Atlanta staple.
Meanwhile, FitzPatrick describes Woerner as one of his best friends. Woerner was an upperclassman by the time FitzPatrick enrolled at Georgia and became a mentor for the young tight end. FitzPatrick said his favorite memory playing with Woerner at Georgia was his first snap as a starter because Woerner was lined up right alongside him. It is a special memory, especially since the two get to have a full-circle moment playing together again in their home state.
Woerner may be the root of that friendship, but he's also the glue of the Falcons' tight end room.
"Chuck is such a good leader he can go in different rooms and relate to people really well," Falcons tight end coach Kevin Koger said "... Chuck is kinda like the connection piece. He's like low-key Mr. Personality, he gravitates toward different groups."
If Woerner is Mr. Personality, then Dwelley is "Mr. Dependable," as described by Koger.
"One thing about Ross is — in a good way — sometimes when he's in there you don't notice, which means he's just doing his job," Koger said. "And he's very sound and very fundamentally sound."
While blocking is a primary responsibility for tight ends in this offense, Koger praised the versatility of all the players in his position group. It may have initially come as a surprise to see Dwelley, who had just one reception in 2023, connect with Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. multiple times during training camp, but it wasn't to Woerner.
"He's caught a couple good balls and everyone's like, 'Oh, OK.' And I'm like, 'Nothing I ain't seen for the last four years out in San Francisco,'" Woerner said. "Dwelley's a great football player, always had really sure hands and just a great blocker. Good player, and so it's not a surprise to see him go have a good training camp so far."
Koger wasn't surprised either. As soon as Dwelley joined the Falcons, Woerner told his coach that his former teammate had "some of the better hands" on the Niners.
There's a lot of depth in the room, and that's not even mentioning Kyle Pitts. The former No. 4 overall pick who surpassed 1,000 yards as a rookie looks to have a resurgence this season after returning to full health. The close friendship among the group has also extended to Pitts.
Just weeks into OTAs, Koger said the tight ends' group chat was already buzzing. Without delving too deep into that private space, Koger simply said it's very active.
The chat will surely heat up during college football season. Pitts, a former Florida Gator, lamented the strong Georgia Bulldog presence; Koger holds his own with Michigan bragging rights; Dwelley, who played at the University of San Diego simply gets to watch the shenanigans unfold.
"Every year I get to mess with Kyle about Georgia-Florida, and he doesn't have much of a response. It's just gonna be the same thing as every other year," FitzPatrick said. "We have fun together talking about that, and I have more Georgia firepower to talk about, so it's great."
Now, FitzPatrick has a trash-talk buddy in Woerner, but it's all in good, competitive spirit and helps increase the bond inside the room.
"It's a lot of fun," Woerner said. "A lot of camaraderie and just friendships."
